Over the course of thousands of years and incredible pressure, glaciers manage to press the air out of the ice that forms them. In Iceland, caves showcase the art of mother nature with crystal like ice forming incredible caverns that allow light to shine inside like natural prisms. For the brave photographers that make their way inside these caves, the sounds of ice cracking and moving is a constant sign that these beautiful formations could collapse at any minute… a sobering reminder that some photographers have died trying to capture these phenomena.

The caves are formed by water making its way through a moulin, which is basically a natural bore hole that melts its way from the top of the glacier down to the base. As the water escapes at the base it makes larger and larger caves, and while they are very unstable, the beauty is absolutely incredible. One of the most popular spots to see these glacial caves is the Crystal Cave of Svmnafellsjvkull (CORR) in Skaftafell National Park. The caves are created by the slopes of 6,921 foot tall Vrffajvkull: Iceland’s tallest active volcano. The force of the ice fields moving down its slopes has compressed all air out, making it one of the most incredible spots to capture the beauty on film.